Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-02
Pun in Our browning club.


che or Ligurian coast TO the tip of the
,ot. n-PdriS Letter.
Pun In Our Browning Club.
A stranger worn and nearly spent
with travelling DER this continent,
Resolved to stop at wayside inn
And refuge seek from dust and din.
Friendly hands his efforts crown,
He finds place In a quiet town
ON the bank Of stream, whoss gentle flow
Pure, untroubed dreams bestow
He fingers long in this peaceful vale,
Gaining strength from hill and dale,
Rambling over park and plain,
Rejoicing IN boyhood's sports again.
one day, beated ON his way,
lie turns aside, and goes astray.
No eye can penetrate the gloom,
So ON he marches TO his doom.
Guided by glimmering rays Of light,
He reaches u building warm and bright
Where murmuring voices In the air
Inform him It's the house Of prayer
Abashed he stands in his timeworn suit,
Gazing around on the crowd astute,
Fearing he must for pardon sue
Aud he ushcrt,l into the "stranger's pew"
All! what Joy his senses greet
When kindly shown an anxious seat
our traveller, puzzled and pleased as we'll,
Wishes to feel the magic spell
Each member seems to exercise
Upon the weak and worllly-wisc.
what sect" he asks man at the right.
"A new one called the Browningite.'
rs that the priests' the stranger said
"Oh, no; our patriarchnl head
Then n silence fell on the multitude
As the vurshippers looked In expectant mood
At their leader, whose countenance bpamcd
with love
While he tcudciiy called for his sladys "Gloye. ="
The stranger admired the plausible way
In which the reader had her say,
But frlt thrill of exnsperatlon
As she continued her cnstignton;
He wanted to get right up In meetln'N
And demonstrate against such plain speak
in"
But the Nlsh fled when the leader said
Andrea del SaHo' will now be read.
For the traveller knows the painters woes
Are more to be- dreaded than DeIorge's foes.
While lost In these sad cogitations,
lie is conscious ~ two strange vibrations.
"Pruspicc', smotherrd snecze
Speak little louder madam, II you plras, "
The lady wrhthfully says, "Tll try"
Which the youth accepts with long drawn
sigh.
Rabbi Ben Ezra. " with slow, measured pace,
Presents to the listeners a remarkable case;
Such rrconditc fancies and tltologir lore
We're ne'rr heard, at length. by members bc-
fore"
"A Death in the Desert 81" No reply.
The stranger. nouphlssed. wonders why
Soon. In corner ~ the room,
An agonized form begins 10 loom;
A member In brown, with impressive frowu,
Motions the victim to move straight ON.
The member IN blue, with ashen hue,
Seems at a loss to know what to do;
4 start "a dash and then a close
Is all the stranger hears or knows.
out ~ breath and somewhat vrxed,
He wonders what is coming next
Evelyn Hope" and Fra Lippo Lippi'
Sing a mild Bcnedictne ditty.
Grrunium leaves aud sweet rosemary
Are draped around the monastery
our Traveller now has his suspicious
He's graphing with some "Apparitions,
But is not in the least bit dauuted
To tnd the little chapel haunted.
Iegato chords, cadenza notes,
Gushing from two sisters throats
While doleful fugues and gay toccatas
Are Oft repeated by these martyrs
The Statue and the Bust, with "dilrttant,''
cries
Contains a moral besides Tor wives
MIR. Sudge, the Medium, spiritually strong,
Causes a parting in the throng;
Many behold him with deep emotion,
But the leader with tact qIells the commotion
BY the Fireside, II dreamy scene with vistas
Of green,
Fills the traveller with thoughts serene;
L.. at II . IA
Ends with hearty bursts Of laughter
Meeting at Night" and Parting In the Morn
ing
Obscures the club with tnge Of Browning
The moons silver sheen DER the sun path OF
gold
Forever and ever fresh marvels unfold
The Huus., AT the Mermaid 81" Two faii
dcbutantes
Reluctantly, timidly shyly advance;
The club with joyful acclamations
Receives their heartfelt sAlutatlons
The Grammarians Funeral" iocos,.ly read
Inspires the mourners with sorrow and dread
James Lees Wife, In the Spanish Cluistcr'
Lugubrious feelings strangely foster
The Lost Leader" some critics bewaied
Speaking Of Wordsworth as one " no had fail
ed
Huvers about the patriarch = head
The Last Ride Together so hard and 50 fas
Jolts the stranger into the past
Now the leader is heard 10 call
Cheerib for the Brown Birds saul"
And what wonderful song she sings
An aoliAn harp with a thousand strings;
Thesr dulrrt, fiute-like tones Made trees
And the mountainous that freeze
Bow themselves when she did sing
To her music, plants and flowers
Ever sprung, a. sun and showers
There had made a lasting spring"
The stranger knows his die is cast
And rushes out In the bowling blast;
But midst the cry Of the ftful night
A voice sounds from its starry height:
Il know that my service Is perfect,
oh, speak through ME now!
Would suffer for him that love-
So wouldst thou so wilt thou!
So shall crown thee the topmost, ineffablrst
uttermost crown,
And thy love MI inhnitude wholly, nor leav
up nor down
one spot for the creature to stand In.
1t is by no breath,
Turn OF eye, wave Of hand, that salvation
joins issue with death.
As thy love il discovered almighty. almlght,
be proved
Thy power that exists with and for it of bcnI
beloved"
The storm has ceased, the tempest fled,
The moon peeps forth from her leccy bed
And points to figure cold and still
on the grassy slope OF the churchyard hill,
Revealing the traveller now at rest,
Claspug tightly to his breast
These simple words dirge-like pail
"Done 10 death by Browning's saul '"
MACFEE,
st. Louis, May 10, 1885.